If we turn the map upside down and start Australian history where its documentation properly begins – in the north – the kaleidoscope of Australian history falls into a completely different pattern. Prior contact with Muslim Asians on the north coasts and the cultural bridge of the Torres Strait into coastal New Guinea, make nonsense of the idea of an isolated continent. Indeed, until World War II, whites were heavily outnumbered in the north by close-knit Asian and indigenous communities. Instead of a White Australian past in the north we see a history of "mixed relations".[i] I think, however, that the Macassan trade to Arnhem Land expedited the British claim over the whole continent and rendered it more urgent.

What we have, then, are two bicentennial episodes of settlement – give or take a few decades – related to each other: the Macassan trade roused the commercial interest of British colonisers in the north and the British colonisation of the north spelt the demise of the Macassan trade.

That indigenous people of the far north were linked in trade with China well before the British colonists also pulls another plank of the historical master narrative into the vortex. The idea of the isolated continent has tenaciously survived empirical counter evidence. The Torres Strait has long been recognised as much bridge as barrier, a region of intensive trade linking the Australian continent with the New Guinean mainland.[vii] Torres Strait Islanders were eventually confined to their islands by Queensland Aboriginal policy that also prevented mainland Aborigines from travelling abroad and the Macassans were evicted when white colonisation became established in the north. We might say, on balance, that a period of isolation from the outside world began in the north with the arrival of white colonisers.

"na" - added in the END (if there is no "ah" or "eh" or second to the last if there is "ah" or "eh") replacing Now, Already Etc.exmple: **English: "I'm Hungry Already" "Taglish: I'm Hungry na" **English: "Now I'm Happy" Taglish: "Im Happy na."

In some unique cases like "NOW!" in English is "Now Na!" is also acceptable.

Blending: "I'm Hungry na eh." "You're Improving na ah."

Correct me if im wrong, Filipinos out there. I'm only 90% sure about this since I'm an Ilocano not Tagalog.

As a question tag: No is very commonly attached to the end of a statement to turn it into a question, either rhetorically or seeking confirmation from the listener that the statement is true. It is usually the equivalent of "isn't that so?" or something similar.

I wonder how are (or were) the Iberian brothers? Super-depressed I guess.

(Imaginary Scene)

-It's your fault!-Mine?-Come on irmão, colonies in all continents? You are too greedy.-Shut up, you "chaquetero" (turncoat). It would never happened if you had stayed at my side.-Enough! Wait, Where are Cuba and Philippines?-Oh, they are dating with USA.-What? Are you mad? He is a bad influence: republican, protestant, independent... What Is wrong with you?-Don't worry hermano, I trust them, they are good boys who know what is loyalty,(whispering) not like others...